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Aircraft pictures (Broadband suggested!)
I'm a bit jealous of Thomas' thread, that must be the all time most viewed thread of WUS. And I have little hope of achieving those numbers, but I also know that many here like to look at aircraft, so here are a few.
My last flight to Tokyo was on the jump-seat (during T/O and Landing at least) and I took my camera.
The first picture was taken at the gate. After asking permission for Push-Back, we had to wait for a company B747-400 docking at the gate next to us. And while us B777 pilots like to make jokes about this 'classic' aircraft, or flying museum, it remains an impressive sight.
During push-back, another 747 being towed needs to wait for us.
On the 'outer track' yet another 747 passes. This one is a 'KLM Asia' aircraft, a small subsidiary specially started years ago, to be able to fly to Taiwan, and not loose our landing rights in China. Politics!
Two 737's ready for take-off. One KLM, and the other Transavia, KLM's low cost daughter.
And a Fokker F100 waiting for line-up. This one is operated by KLM City Hopper, our 'regional' daughter. In the back ground you see 'Schiphol East' the area where the Fokker factory used to be for decades, and where this very aircraft was build before Fokker was sold. A sad day for most Dutch!
During taxi out, we pass one of Schiphol's fire-stations, and apparently, the firefighters are cleaning their driveway!
And a bit further on, we pass a popular 'spotters' spot. Normally I wave back, but now I take a picture.
You may think by now that this post is an advertisement for my employer, but to prove you wrong, here are a few more pictures taken after landing on Narita, Tokyo.
First a landing 747-400 from our American partner North-West Airlines. If you look closely, you'll see the vapor over the leading edges of the wing.
Next an All Nippon B767.
Another B767, this time from Japan Airlines. Like most things in Japan, the aircraft always look clean and suggest good maintenance, unlike some European and American airlines.
A slightly older Korean Air Airbus.
Cathay Pacific B777 in Take-off
China Airlines B747-400 with retracting gear.
And a British Airways B747-400 starting the Take-Off roll, while drying the runway with a little jet-blast.
And finally two pictures from the airport itself.
Narita is still unfinished. We've seen the development of airports frustrated by the anti-pollution, anti-noise lobby etc. everywhere in the world. But apparently Japanese real estate is very well protected by law. Several taxiways, and one of the runways are still unfinished because the land they must be build on, is still not owned by the airport authorities, but by stubborn original owners. That makes Narita a somewhat awkward airport, because one runway is really too short for intercontinental operations, and conflicts between taxiing aircraft can happen easily.
Proof is this small white house, that is completely surrounded by taxi-tracks, and has taxiing jets going by with the wingtips almost through the very small garden all day, every day. It can only be reach by a tunnel, and very steep driveway. And for security purposes, there is a tower with an armed policeman watching it always. You must really like your house to hang on to it like that!
Almost there!
Taxiing in to the gate. Very Japanese, the airport is tidy, and all handling personal is correctly dressed, on time, fast, and seems to take pride in what they are doing.
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Very nice pictures Ron ! and a special CX 777
Originally Posted by pegase747
